Withers LLP

The firm: Withers is one of the world’s first international law firms dedicated to the business, personal and philanthropic interests of successful people, their businesses, families and advisers. With over 220 partners and more than 1,000 other staff members in 17 offices across Europe, the US, Asia Pacific and the Caribbean, Withers has unparalleled expertise in the key legal issues facing individuals, their families and their businesses. Its clients’ interests span over 100 countries and the firm has acted for 74% of the top 100 UK ‘Sunday Times Rich List’, and a significant number of the US ’Forbes List’ of Richest Americans and the Asian ‘Hurun Rich List’.

Principal areas of work
Private client: Withers has one of the largest and most comprehensive private client practices in the UK. Whether you require advice on legal and tax structuring for your business and investments, family and business governance, tax and estate planning, immigration, pensions or help with a vulnerable person in your family, Withers will deliver tailored solutions to meet your specific needs. Many of its clients’ interests are purely domestic, whilst others are international families with interests in a number of locations. In a fast-moving and increasingly compliance focused world, the need for integrated advice that reaches across borders has never been greater. Withers’ clients have achieved success in many fields, from senior executives to multi-generational families, owners, managers and investors in private capital.

Family: As one of the largest, longest established and most experienced teams in the world, there are few situations the practice has not handled. The family team predominantly acts for high-net-worth individuals, founders and senior professionals, frequently advising on cross border and complex financial cases. A central aim is to help clients avoid a traumatic and protracted court battle, securing the best possible outcome and a fair and appropriate settlement. Withers has also been instrumental in shaping and setting precedents in family and divorce law in the UK and Hong Kong.

Dispute resolution: The firm has defended the interests of successful individuals, businesses and brands for many years, pursuing matters swiftly and robustly where necessary. With over 180 lawyers globally, Withers has an established international dispute resolution practice acting in complex multi-jurisdictional cases and is well known in the art, sport, fashion, luxury assets and natural resources sectors. Specialisms include international arbitration, public international law, tax controversy, media and reputation management, employment and regulatory, white collar investigations, professional negligence, board and shareholder disputes, insolvency and fraud. Their BVI office is a particular strength in cross border litigation, focusing on insolvency, asset tracing and recovery. With a disputes portfolio valued at $11bn, it has pioneered the use of arbitration and mediation for commercial disputes and, more recently, trust disputes.

Real estate: Withers’ real estate team has completed commercial, residential and non-profit deals for some of the most prominent individuals, families and institutions in the world, helping them to expand both domestically and internationally, offering specialist insight into both day-to-day real estate investments, as well as complex development projects. The firm’s dedicated team also assists with tax structuring, dispute resolution and finance.

Corporate: Clients benefit from the team’s depth and diversity of knowledge when advising on issues that arise over the entire life cycle of a company, from securing investment, to structuring executive equity incentives and completing mergers and acquisitions. Working with successful people and organisations around the world means that the team understands the unique legal issues surrounding private capital, which can range from investment, structuring and control of cross border investments to the corporate and personal tax issues created.

Charities: The charities and philanthropy team actively engages with and shapes legal reform and developments in the charity sector. Withers has one of the largest portfolios of charity clients in the country, acting for over 50% of the UK’s top 50 charities by income. Clients range from leading national charities to small private foundations. The firm has worked in the not-for-profit sector for decades and has one of the most comprehensive teams in the UK legal sector, who also offer US/UK, cross border charity advice.

Technology: The technology team known as Withers tech includes professionals from across the globe in areas including intellectual property, corporate restructuring, venture capital, employment law and finance. The team’s comprehensive legal offering is designed to meet the unique needs of entrepreneurs, a diverse range of investors and high growth technology companies in a number of industries including life sciences, fintech, cleantech, adtech and emerging technology sectors such as blockchain, crypto, and artificial intelligence.